When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion ; literally, when the Lord turned again the returning of Zion ; i . e . "brought back those who returned from the Captivity." We were like them that dream . We could scarce credit our senses; we seemed to be in a happy "dream" (comp. Acts 12:9 ). read more
Turning captivity into liberty. Is that always, altogether, and necessarily, a good thing? "When the edict of Cyrus went forth allowing the captives to return, it was so unexpected, it was so miraculous, that we deemed the accomplishment of ancient prophecy a dream." "To turn again captivity" is to bring back God's redeemed ones. Perowne skillfully presents the points of thought and feeling in this psalm. "The first colony of exiles had returned to Palestine. But, after all, what was that... read more
Spiritual bondage. In the Divine deliverance from spiritual captivity, of which the return from Babylon may be regarded as a type, we have a crowning kindness from his gracious hand. It is said that there is no sensation so exquisitely delightful as that we experience when there is a sudden cessation of acute pain. Similarly, we may say that there is no spiritual joy which is quite equal to that of finding ourselves freed from an intolerable evil. Perhaps there is no moment of such... read more
Like them that dream. I. THE DREAM . It was a delightful one. 1. There are many of quite another kind— dreams full of trouble, terror, and distress. Many such are recorded in Scripture ( Genesis 40:1-23 .; Daniel 2:1-49 .; Job 7:14 ; Matthew 27:19 ). 2. But this was full of joy and rapture . So unexpected, so wonderful, was Israel's redemption from exile. They could hardly realize how blessed they were. For it was a reality, not a dream. More often the... read more
The history of a soul. That which was written of and for the returned exiles of Judah lends itself so accurately and beautifully to describe the history of a redeemed soul, that it seems as if that larger and higher history were meant as well as that of Judah. The same words tell of both. I. THE SOUL WAS ONCE A CAPTIVE . Not alone the people of Zion, but every redeemed soul. It was captive once: 1. To the Law of God . That Law which was holy, just, and good, the Law... read more
Alternations and contrasts in the experiences of life. "When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream." I. SOME CHANGES SEEM MORE LIKE DREAMS THAN REALITIES . Seem too good or too bad to be true. 1. When they come suddenly . It takes time to adjust ourselves to them as facts and not fictions. And to realize the consequences they bring with them. 2. When they bring or promise more than we ever expected . We sing and laugh... read more
Then was our mouth filled with laughter . The Orientals weep when they are disappointed, and, when they are pleased, laugh ( Genesis 21:6 ; Job 8:21 ) and shout for joy (Herod; 8.99). And our tongue with singing ; rather, with a cry of joy . Then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them ; literally, hath magnified to do with them . The heathen, among whom the Israelites had dwelt, marveled at their deliverance. It was an event without a parallel. read more
Signs of joy. Polybius, in describing the joy of the Greeks when unexpectedly rescued from the Macedonians, says, "Most of the men could scarcely believe the news, but imagined themselves in a dream as they listened to what was said, so extraordinary and miraculous it seemed to them." I. JOY AND GLADNESS MAY BE FITTING RESPONSE TO CIRCUMSTANCES . There is a natural and proper response to every set of conditions in which we are placed. We need never restrain those... read more
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John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 126:5
Verse 5 5.They who sow in tears shall reap in joy. This sentence, in my opinion, ought not less to be extended to the future than understood of the past. The carrying away of the Jews into Babylon was to them as a seed-time; (94) God having, by the prophecy of Jeremiah, encouraged them to hope for the harvest. Still, it was not without very great heaviness and anguish of heart that they were dragged into such long continued captivity. It was, as if in the time of dearth the poor husbandman, who... read more